Remote physical therapy apparatus

Abstract

This invention discloses methods and apparatus for tracking prescribed movement of body parts. According to the present invention multiple sensors are used to track body part motion. The tracked motion may then be compared to prescribed motion and also be stored for ascertaining compliance with a prescribed therapy regimen.

1 . A computerized apparatus for automated patient physical therapy, the apparatus comprising:
 a computer server accessible with a network access device via a communications network; and   executable software stored on the server and executable on demand, the software operative with the server to cause the apparatus to:   prescribe at least one therapeutic movement for a patient;   instruct the patient on performance of the at least one therapeutic movement;   receive input from multiple sensors attached to the patient;   track a relative position of the multiple sensors during performance of the at least one therapeutic movement, said tracking based upon the input received from the multiple sensors; and   displaying in a human recognizable form a virtual simulation of the therapeutic movement based upon the tracking of the relative position of the multiple sensors during the performance of the at least one therapeutic movement.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the software is additionally operative to assess a physical therapy need for a patient. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the instruction of therapeutic movement comprises instruction from a physical therapist. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the instruction of therapeutic movement comprises instruction from a video segment. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein virtually simulating therapeutic movement comprises instruction from a video segment. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tracking of the relative position of the multiple sensors during the performance of the at least one therapeutic movement comprises triangulation of the position of three or more sensors attached to the patient. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  tracking of the relative position of the multiple sensors during the performance of the at least one therapeutic movement additionally comprises triangulation with at least one fixed point. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the fixed point comprises a platform on which the patient stands. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the fixed point is based upon a transmitting sensor fixed to the patient. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the software is additionally operative to transmit data to a remote network access device. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the remote network access device is associated with a health care provider caring for the patient. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the remote network access device is associated with an insurance provider insuring the patient. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the remote network access device comprises a data storage device archiving data related to the patient's therapy. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  additionally comprising displaying a virtual image based upon the tracked movements of the patient. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the software is additionally operative to modifying a therapeutic movement based upon the displaying of a virtual image based upon the tracked movements of the patient.